For the last nine years, Japanese photographer, Miyoko Ihara, has been taking photos of her grandmother, Misao Ihara, and her white, odd-eyed cat, Fukumaru.

Misao and Fukumaru share a special bond and go everywhere together. Although Misao is 88 years old, she still works in the fields, planting and weeding under the sun, with Fukumaru always at her side.

“When I see the way my grandmother is living her life, I really feel that she has a kind of strength that my generation simply can’t match,” Miyoko tells Nippon.com. “She gets up with the sun, and goes to bed when it sets. She loves her cat and the vegetables in her field like her own children.”

Image by LollypopFarm
Clarke is a 1.5-year-old male cat, who is all black with a touch of white under his chin and on his belly. He’s a very playful cat, which has earned him the nickname Sparky!

This sweet boy loves to be scratched is under his chin and neck, as well as on his head. He can be very talkative, especially when it’s time to eat. He loves food! Clarke is extremely affectionate with people and other cats. He will give you lots of kisses and hang out with you, wherever you are, just to have your company.

Clarke would prefer a dog-free home; it takes him a long time to warm up to them. He would also do best in a home with older children, or children with great kitty experience. Clarke can’t wait to meet you!

o^_________^o
NiNJA & KOGA showcases a gift from one of "the guys."
Instead of fLowers for me, he gave my babies this.
Purrty sweet =]

Pet of the Week: Jake, 7409839

Image by LollypopFarm
Jake is a 10-year-old male longhaired cat who was brought to Lollypop Farm after being abandoned.

We don’t know much about Jake’s history, but here at the shelter he has become a staff favorite!

Jake is one fluffy and friendly cat. This regal looking guy really likes getting attention from people. He enjoys being petted and getting head scratches. When you pet him, you’ll notice that Jake has a beautiful, soft coat.

Jake is eligible for our Seniors-for-Seniors program, so approved adopters age 60 and over can bring him home free of charge!

Someone alerted us on the forum to a pet-people social network, so I went and looked at it.

This lady had no idea what kind of tool she had stumbled upon, but I did, and I knew right how to use it. It’s like Facebook, of which I am a huge fan.

They allow free classified ads so I posted a nice one about the pet food. You can do product reviews so I reviewed Life’s Abundance and Instinctive Choice and the supplements. You can write little journal stories so I wrote a story about Mr. Tree Kitty. People request friendships with you so I accepted. There was SO MUCH I could do in this forum, legitimately, just to network and connect with other pet people without really saying anything about pet food!

This business is all about just connecting with people. So this was a great little tool. Makes me want to go out and find other forums like this one and join them.

Happy Home and Family has teamed up with a group of the most amazing bloggers around to bring you this great giveaway to help you out with your holiday expenses!!

One lucky reader will be winning a $ 100 Amazon Gift Card!

If you win the $ 100 Amazon GC, what would you buy?

I know that if had a $ 100 Amazon GC this time of year, I would use it to buy Christmas gifts. I love buying from Amazon and not just books for my Kindle either. They have everything at reasonable prices, and I love their one click buying. After entering this giveaway, check out my widget over on the right sidebar for the deal of the day.

Question by S: is flea treatment fipronil safe for use on lactating dogs?
I have a mother pomerian who is nusing her 3 week old pups, is it safe to a skin application
for fleas & ticks containing fipronil (active ingredient)?

Best answer:

Answer by Jenny ManyteethRead the label on the package. If it doesn’t say, call the company: there’s a phone number on the package.

I personally doubt it, and I would not use any flea treatment on a nursing mother. She should have been treated before the pups were born, and a Pom should be safe in her home, away from such things.